Packaging apparatus



March 23, 1943. A, F TOELKE [g1-AL` 2,314,434

PACKAG I NG APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 F161 Q. VH

March 23, 1943. A. F. TOELKE ETAL 2,314,434

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fl G.| 5. fw ff/a/ /79 WP E 'l I Mmh 23, 1943.

A. F. rol-:LKE ETAL PACKAGING APPARATUS.

Filed May 1'?, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG4.

March 23, 1943.

A. F. TOELKE ET AL PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1941 '7Sheets-Sheet 5 March 23,v 1943. A. F. TOELKE ETAL 2,314,434

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 20. Z

March 23, 1943. A. F. ToELKE Erm.

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 jPatenteclMar. l

rAcxAGmG arrnna'rus anni F. roem, velaavulage, Remota celine,v

Pine Lawn, and

Peter J. Wenta. Brentwood.'

Mo., assIgnorstoJackes-Evans Manufacturing? Company, St. Louis, Mo., acorporationot f Missouri i Application May 17. 1941, serial No.394,031;v

1s claims. f- (ci. 93-3) n This invention relates to packagingapparatus, and with regard to certain more specific features, 'to anautomatic loader for packaging 'cartridge clips ofthe type referred toin :the United States patentfof August F. Toelke et al., No. 2,283,885,dated May 19, 1942, for Testing gauge. f Among the several objects ofthe invention may be noted the provision oflapparatus for application tosaid testing rgauge whereby the cartridge clips `may be automaticallypackaged after test; andthe provision ofv apparatus of the classdescribed which* is compact and reliable. Other objects will be in p artobvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. y

The invention accordingly comprises lthe elements andy combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scopeofvthe application of vwhich will be indicatedin'the following claims.

In the" accompanying drawings lin which are shown several of' variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of parts without a showing o f the testing gaugeof said patent;

' Fig. 2 is afront elevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a leftaend elevationof Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line '4 4 of Fi'g.2; J Y

` Fig.'5 is a vertical section taken on line 5--5 of' Fig. 12

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken yon line 6-6 of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 'I is a vertical section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing alternate positions ofcertain parts;

Fig. 9 isa fragmentary plan view of a part of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 isa horizontal section taken on lines III-I of Figs. 3 and 11,showing certain valve details; v g A Fig. 11 s a vertical section takenonline I of Fig. 10;

Fig."12 is a horizontalfsection taken on line |2`|2 0f Fig. 23 l Figs.13-19 are fragmentary vertical sections taken successively on lineslIii-J3, It-H, 5,

IS-IG, I'i-I'I, IIB-i8, and IIB- I9 0f Fig. 1;

Fig. ZOisaagmentary' plan view'of a modication;

Fig. 21 is a vertical section taken on line 2i- 2 I of'Fig. 20,'showingnsaidmodiiication;

and' .v

Fig. 2,2 isk a vertical ysection taken on line 22-22 of Fig. 2O.y A. ASimilar reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout theseveral views of the drawings. j ,l

The apparatus ofthe present invention, may be built into' the testingapparatus disclosed in said patent above mentioned, or into .similarapparatus -which feeds out intertting or adjacent iinished clipsinaseries. Each clip will be indicated by the letter K and is provided onone -side with end bands 3 and 5,y and has an opposite intermediateband 1. In side elevation, each clip has the appearance of a numeraleight, bands and 5 forming one loop in elevation and band 'l .formingthe other. The distance between the inner edges of the spaced bands 3and 5 is such as to receive the 'interiitting band 'I as the clips areCil pushed from the ytesting parts described in said patent. It is topackage the clips thus serially interiltted that is the purposer of thepresent invention.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1` and 2, there is shown atnumeral.v I3 a platform supported upon legs I4. 4 The testingVvapparatus above the platform I3 has not been repeated in the drawingsherein, being shown in said patent, and it will suiiice to state that itdeposits clips successively in the vertical position shown at K in Fig.1.

At numeral |05 is shown the cam-shaft which, throughmeans alreadydescribed in said patent, or similar means,`is responsible for therocking of an arm` 3|5. This arm, through its oscillations, reciprocatesa pusher 3| l. The cam-shaft is driven by a belt |8| 'through a gearreduction box |11. As will be seen fromFig'. 6 clips K which come fromthe testing apparatus descend at 8, with the loops 3 and 5 positioned ina socket behind a flap 9. and between guides li. Upon reciprocation ofthe pusher 3| the clips are rotated counterclockwise into horizontalpositions and pushed to the left (Fig. 6) successive cenrectly opposite'the reciprocating'ram"3||.

Cartons I5 which form the boxes are received in a. iiat condition', asshownin Figs. 2, 5 and 6.

l A supply of them 'is placed between vertical guides I1; thebottominost one of cartons' yI5 bey ing supported upon' alowerpartiallyjcircular plate I9, which is cut away as shown at 2 l."'I-'hisplate when in the angular position shown in Figs. 1 and 5supports the column of fiat packages, .but if rotated 180", it will dropthe bottommost flat package.

In order to prevent dropping more than one package at a time, a second,upper, partially cir- .cular plate 23 is provided with a cut-awayportion 25. The edge 21 at the cut-away portion is more or lesssharpened, so that upon rotation, it may become inserted above thelowermost carton and below the next higher carton. 'I'he plate 23 isspaced from the plate I9 by washer. 29 to is inserted above thelowermost carton to hold the second-lowermost carton upon the upperplate 23 before the lower plate I9 turns from beneath the lowermostcarton I5. Hence, as the lower plate I9 moves to the 180 position withrespect to Figs. 1 and 5, the lowermost carton is dropped when thecut-away portion 2| comes around beneath the column of cartons I5. Laterin the cycle the space 25 associated with upper plate 23 drops the next(now lowermost) carton upon the lower plate I9. Thus one lowermostcarton is dropped for each revolution of the shaft 3|. A friction brake31 operative upon one or the other edges of the plates I9 and 23 servesto maintain given positions of these plates when they are not activated.

The shaft 3| is carried in a bracket 39 and hasA fast on its upper end adisc 4|. A pawl 43 is pivoted at 45 on the upper surface of the disc 4|and is normally biased clockwise (Fig. 12) by means of a spring 41, alsocarried upon the disc 4 I.

Freely rotary on the upper end of the shaft 3|, and beneath a collar 45,is a ratchet 49 from which extends an arm 5I which is pivoted at 53 to`a connecting rod 55 (Fig. 1). The arm 55 is in turn pivoted at 51 to adriving rocker 59. The rocker 59 is on a vertical shaft 5| which passesdownward through a bearing 53 (Fig. 3) and receives its motion from afollower 55, cooperating with a cam 51 on the cam shaft |05 (Fig. 4).Thus upon rotation of the cam shaft |05, the ratchet 49 is oscillated.The angle of oscillation is greater than the angle between successiveteeth on the ratchet, so that if the pawl 43 is biased towardengagement, it and the disc 4| will be rotated intermittently bysuccessive teeth. If the pawl 43 is disengaged, no motion istransmitted. .'I'he follower 55 is held against the cam 61 by a spring55.

The pawl 43 may be disengaged (so that the ratchet does not drive thepawl) by movement of its tail piece 59 into engagement with a movablelug 1I on a countershaft 13. This occurs when the lug 1I is in anengaging position. If the lug 1| is not in the path ofthe tail piece 59,the pawl 43 is not drawn out of engagement with the ratchet 49. 'Such acondition is indicated by the dotted-line position of the lug 1| shownin Fig. 12. The posi-tion of the lug 1I for engagement by the tail piece59 is shown in solid lilies in Fig.I

which support a conveyorchain C consisting in* part of two reaches ofblock chains 15. The

shaft |31 which carries the right-hand sprockets 15 is supported inJournals 251 which are adjustable, as indicated, so that desired tensionmay be maintained in the conveyor chains 15. Certain of the pins of theblock chains 15 carry angle plates 11 from which extend hook-shaped wallplates 19. As the plates 11 and 19 pass with chains 15 over thesprockets 15, they are angularly related as shown generally in Fig. 5,that is, separated. When these plates 11 and 19 are positioned on thestraight reaches between sprockets, they are rectangularly related asshown. From Figs. 7 and 8 it will also be seen that the upper reaches ofthe block chains 15 are supported by reason of the fact that the plates11 (carried by the chains) slide upon guide members 209.

As plates 11 and 19 pass to the upper tangent of the set of sprocketsbeneath the guides I1, they receive one flat carton I5 through theselective action of the rotary plates I9 and 23. 'I'his is before theparts 11 and 19 close in to form a rectangular holder.

In order to start opening of the successive cartons from their flatconditions as they are dropped into successive angle plates 11 (Fig. 5),an air-operated lance 5| is provided, such as shown in Figs..l, 5, 1 and8. This lance 5I has a pointed end 53 with a lateral iin or fluke 55.Behind the n is a stem 51 which carries a piston 59 in an air cylinder9|. A forward opening stroke is accomplished by introducing air to arear port 93 (Figs. 7 and 8) Rearwardl withdrawal action is accomplishedby introducing air to a front port 9,5.

The ports 93 and 95 are connected by suitable hose lines 91 and 99(respectively). with valve ports |0I and |03 (respectively) of an airvalve V. The' valve V (Figs. 10 and 11) consists of a body |05 having anair supply manifold |01 in which is a throttle valve |09 for adjustablecontrol of air flow. At III is a liner in which is an inlet port II3. Acontrol valve member II5 serves in one position to connect the inletport II3 with the hose 91 which feeds port 93 to force the lance 5I intoa carton. This is when the cam 33 contacts an operating lever ||1 (Fig.11) which is at the time when the lower plate I9 has dropped a carton.Lever |I1 is pivoted at |20 and is connected to valve ||5 through link|24. Spring II9 biases the valve II5 to return. When the cam 33 furtherrotates, the lever |I1 is released by the cam 33 and air passes from theinlet port ||3 to the hose 99 which leads to the port 95 behind piston89, thus withdrawing the lance 5|. Thus for each rotation of the platesI9 and 23, and consequently for each time that a carton I5 is dropped,the lance 5I is reciprocated one forward and backward stroke.

In front of point 53 of 'the lance 5I is a, flap I 2| pivoted at |23 andnormally biased up by a spring |25 (Fig. 9). by the lance 5| as thelance advances, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 7. When pushedaside, it has the effect of depressing a closure flap '|25 of theflattened carton to permit entry of the lance. At the time that theclosure flap |25 is depressed, the carton is automatically slightlysprung open so that the point 53 of the lance 5I may enter as indicatedin Fig. 8. The lance then runs down the entire length of the carton toassure partial opening to a lozengeshape as indicated in Fig. 5. Then,when the This nap is pushed aside aardgas lance. is` withdrawn, thecarton is carried along upon the chainv C. The members 11 and"A becomerectangularly related so as to transform thelozenge-'shaped-cross-section of the carton to .a rectangularly-shapedcross-section, as indicated in said Fig. 5. A lip.I 19 extending fromupon the chainC onlyas required 11 serves as an angle former for onecorner,

of the carton when` the straight reach of the chain 16 is reached.

To assure that the parts 11, 19 and 19 are finally properly positionedas the cartons start The conveyor'chain C is driven intermittently' tocarryoi opened cartons from their successive positions beneath the stacksuccessively to a station directly in front of the reciprocating plunger3|I. The drive consists of a ratchet wheel |35 (Fig. 2) aillxed to adrive shaft |31.. This ratchet is between rockers |39 between which ispinned at |4| a pawl |43, normally biased by means of the weight |45 toposition for driving the ratchet |35... Pivoted between the rochers |39at |41 is also a connecting rod |49.

At clevis |5| this rod |49 has a pivoted connection |52 tov an arm |54,the latter being also carried on said oscillating shaft |33. The upperend of the arm |54 is'formed with a catch |53 with which engages adetent latch |55, the

latter being normally biased to engaging position, as indicated in Fig.6. This latch |55 is lcarried on a shaft |51 which also carries a feeler|59 in position at the adjacent carton vend to be contacted by theendmost vone of a row of clips K when the carton is filled. In otherwords, when the feeler |59 is contactedby the endmost one of the clipsin a lled box, the latch |55 is rotated out of engagement with thecatch- |53 so as to releasel the arm |54. The clockwise motion of arm|54 (Fig. 2) is limited by an adjustable stop |60. At |56 is shown acounterweight whichbalances outsome of the ylatch weightto make releasemore sensitive.

Shaft |33 carries an arm |58 from which depends an operating weight |6|.Thus, when the catch |53 is released, the arm |54 is biased clockwise(Fig. 2), andv forces the rod |49 tothe right to operate the arms |39clockwise and thus also for a full revolution of plates I9 and 23. Thisis accomplished by la connecting rod |63 which is pivoted in the clevis|5| and which is also pivoted at |61 to an arm |69 which is xed on saidshaft 13. Thus, each time that the cartons are advanced, the pawl 43 isreleased for coupling to the ratchet 49. .By the time that a fullrevolution is accomplished of plates i9 and 23, the lug 1| has returnedto the solid-line position for reasons which will appear, and iscontacted by the tail 69 to reopen the connection between the ratchet 49and the pawl 43. Thus is accomplished one revolution of thereleasingplates I9 a'nd 2l whichthereby drop individual cartons -i5, bya previouschain movement.

L'aenum of che eaten "m is eaeeted by return-y ing the weighted linkagewhich controls it. This is done by means of Va cam |1| (Figs.- 4k andA6)' acting upon a4 follower |13.

The end of the feeler |59 reaches slightly into the end of the cartonandA i's rounded'to pass over the adjacent wall of the cartonas thelatter moves into position. vAny movement thus required is not enough,however,l to' unlatch the y t catch |53. In fact,- the endmost clipmoves somewhat from the end of the box to obtain enough motion forrelease and subsequently is pushed back by the closing-in action of theadjacent carton closure.

Each carton |5 at one end has said flap |25 -referred to in connectionwith Figs.. 'l and 8.

At the other end is a similar apfl. These iiapsv need to be turned upand into the box ends vafter thebox is filled.' This may vbe done bymeans of a series of wires and guidesshown in Figs. 1,52, 6` and13-l9.yFigs. 13-719 show the 'character of these wires and guides on one sideof the apparatus, and similar reference characters in Fig. 1 indicatethat the wires and guides are similar on the other' side of theapparatus.

Detailing these wires and guides, they consist of a first wire |95,under which passes the respective carton closure |25 or |83 as the casemay be. In Figs. 13-19 the end closure is |93.

Next comes a wire |81 over whichvthe end of the closure |83 passes. Thusthe closure is between the wires |35 and |81. The right-hand end of thewire |81 is inclined as shown at |83 and is formed with a bend |9| overthe wire |95, as indicated in Fig. 14. A depressed extension .|90 of theWire |85 lies adjacent to a scored part '|92 of the flap. Another score`is indicated at |93. By means of the above'constructiom the flap isbent as the box proceeds toward the reader in Fig. 14.

At numeral l-ss (Fig. 15) 1s e third wire whiehA has an anglev rest |91for the bent over flap |83.'v

In the plane of Fig. 16 this rest has a downward extension such asindicated at |99 for further rotating the ila-p |83 to the right, whileat this time the scored part |92 passes from the end-of the wire onto aguide surface 20| carried upon a standard 203. This guide surface, asindicated in` Figs. 16-19, is so formed that as the box pro' Oneadliantage of closing'the opposite flaps of the paclragesat the sametime and toward one another,`is thatno strong gripping means needs vtobe used in connection with the members 11, 18 and 19 to hold thepackages against endwise movement when the closure ilaps are closed in.Members 11, 18 and 19 act as jaws 'to the extent of opening and closingrelatively, and some friction hold is applied to the cartons but'this isnot a crushing grip. The packages are then selfcentering with respect,to the subsequent endclosing means.

As'the cartons approach the end of the conveyor belt C, the members 11,18 and 19, in pass- I The follower |13'is. carried on an arm |19attached to said shaft |33.

tively and drop the loaded, closed cartons upon a moving conveyor belt205 (Fig. 2), which carries them' 0E.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the operation briefly is' asfollows:

As the pusher 3|| reciprocates, clips received from the testingapparatus (not shown herein) are turned counterclockwise and forced, oneafter another, into the cartons, as indicated in Fig. 6. This continuesuntil the carton is lled, whereupon the feeler |59 is contacted by theendmost clip to raise the latch |55 which releases the catch |53. 'I'hebias of the weight |61 then rotates the shaft |33. A

Rotation of the shaft |33 has several effects. One is to pushv the rod|49 to the right, thus rotating the rockers |39, pawl |43, and ratchet|35. The movement is for a predetermined distance, so as to carry thebelt. C a distance equal to the pitch distance between two successivecartons thereon. This brings an-empty carton into position opposite theram 3|| and deposits a iilled carton on the belt 205.

At the same time, the rod |63 is drawn over so as to rmove the shaft 13counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2. 'I'his moves the lug 1| from thesolid-line to the dotted-line :position shown in Fig. 12. Hence thespring 41 biases the pawl 43 against the ratchet 49. Thereafter theoscillations of the arm 5|, as determined by the linkage connectedtherewith and the cam 51 and follower 65, causes one complete revolutionof 'the disc 4| and shaft 3| anda complete revolution of the spacedplates i9 and 23 (Fig. 5). Plate |9 thus releases at the open portion 2|one of the cartons |5 to be deposited upon the belt C.

. At this time the plate 23 moves in to hold up the supply of cartonsuntil the lower plate I9 again moves into position again to effect saidsupport.

During the revolution of the plates I9 and 23,

' the cam 33 also revolves to contact the valve lever ||1, which setsthe valve to deliver air to the port 93 so that the lance .8| isoperated to be inserted through the deposited carton, so as to open itinto lozenge-shape, as indicated in Fig. 5. This is y valve lever ||1 ofvalve before the plates 11 and 19 and the belt C close.`

up into the rectangular relationship. As the cam- 33 leaves the lever||1, the :valve V is reset so` that air is delivered to the ports95,thus withdrawing lance 8|, l '1- When the arm |54 is released toclockwise posi; 'v

tion in Fig. 4, the presser foot |21 israised. This admits advance ofthe edge 18 of. the angle plate 11, even though that edge is slightlyraised, Aas

would lbe the case in view -of the resistanceof the carton of.being'forced into its rectangular shape from its lozenge-shape.

Finally, the cam |1| operating upon the follower |13 moves the shaft |33counterclockwise, thus lifting the weight |6| against its bias andreturning the catch |53 behind the latch |55. This returns the lever |3|and depresses the presser foot |21 to force down the edge 18so thattheIineinbers 11, 18 and 19 force the carton into true rectangular form forproperly receiving the clips when the station opposite the ram 3| isapproached. Lug 1| is only eifectivezupon full revolution of plates |9and 23. j

As filled cartons move from the filling stations opposite the ram 3| I,the ends |83 and |25 are folded over and turned in as they pass throughkdeposit the loaded closed 205. a

In Figs. 20-.22 is shown an alternative scheme ,for closing in the endsof the packages. I'his operates more positively than the wire guidesabove described. Like numerals desi-gnate like parts.

In this case the valve V isari'anged with the outlet hose 91 connectedtoa second manifold 2| having a control valve 2 I3. The control valve isfor control of flow in the hose 91 which leads to the port 93 in thelance cylinder 9|, since this is to be diierentiated from ilow in a line2|!2 which passes to a cylinder 2| 1. Cylinder 2|1 is mounted over theconveyor belt C at a plane O to the right of the lling station oppositeram 3| This cylinder 2 1 is supported upon a bridge 2|9. 'I'he bridge2|9 is connectedsidewise to guides 22| upon which are sliders 223".Brackets 220 support the guides 22|. The sliders also function astuckers for the opposite ilaps |25. 'I'hese flaps are initially carriedupon supporting guide wires 225 and bent down by `p la'tes 25|.

packages upon the belt 'Ihe outer edges of the flaps |83, .when in theup, which biases the linkages into. the dottedl line position shown. Inthisfposition the tuckers 223 are outward so that the carton covers|113V may move into position betwecli-Ak them. 1 When' a loaded such as'shown in bridge 2|9 it rests. During a rex't-` period (whicli isalsowhen a succeeding cartonl being loadet and another succeedingdropped on belt C), the

ilat cartn is being' cam 33'.. operates the Y V so th'it the valve Vtransmits air not only to the port 93 to operate the lance 8|, but also.through hose 2|5, to depress -the piston 231. This causes the linkagesin Fig'. 2l to be moved y.iF-rom the dotted-line to the solidi'inepositions. whereupon the tuckers 223 move nward and upward to tuck inthe ends of the |83 as indicated by the solideline positions'of'saidaps.

The tuckers then return, leaving the a'ps in the Solid-line partiall-closed positions. As the machine proceeds tiifough its cycle ofoperation. the `-carton is movei to a position indicated at M in'Fig. 20where 'are located opposite swinging aps 245 which may swing from thedottedline position shown irl'V Fig. 22l to the solid-line position(Fig. 22). These aJs in dotted-line positions normally rest againstlateral extensions 241 from the tuckers 223. Hence when the tuckersoperate 'upon a succeeding package, the partially closed package at thestation M is completely closed by the action of the extensions 241pushing iii the flaps 245 to close in the carton flaps |83fas indicatedby the solid lines in Fig. 2. 'I'he return .spring 249 initial positin-lIn thisrforni' of closure, the guide plates 25| also used;tocontlne theclips within the cartons as the cartons mQY/e to closing positions,besides carton eoms'; 'into position, 20 and-.21; beneath the returnsthe ilaps 245 to fail to deliver one or more clips ahead of thereciprocating member Ill, it wouldrequire more time for ultimate fillingof Aa carton, but the op- 10 eration of the various parts o1' the loaderwould then be held in abeyance until illling is completed, as determinedby contact of the rst clip inserted into the carton with the i'eeler|59. Thisalso applies to the operation of the one-revolution clutchshown in Fig. 12, because this remains declutched as long as the lug Ilis in the solid-'line position, which corresponds to the condition ofthe latch |55 wherein it holds the catch |52. 20

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above\ constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intendedthat all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

. We claim: 30

1. A package loader comprising means for laterally advancing to afilling station an elongate package .which is .open at both ends, meansfor pushing articles into one open end of the package and through thesame toward the other open 35 end while at the illling station, biasedmeans for holding the package atthe iilling station while beingfllled,'detent means for -preventing said movement of thebiased means,and means responsive to an article tending to emerge from 40 thelast-named open end of the package when the package is iilled-forreleasing the detent means, whereby said biasing means moves the packagelaterally away from .the'iilling station.

2. Package loading apparatus comprising a filling station, a supply foriiattened elongate packages, a conveyor belt, sprocket means beneathsaid supply for supporting theconveyor belt, jaw means' on the beltopenable to receive a package while the belt isv passing over the 50sprocket, the jaw means automatically closing around `the package uponleaving the sprocket, means biasing the beltto move a package laterallyof its length from the supply along a straight line to the fillingstation, a latch resisting said bias, means responsive to a filledcondition ofy a package adjacent the iilling station for releasing saidbiasing means to advance the package further along a straight line,automatic means for returning said biasing means to latch position, andmeans released by the biasing action' to release one package. from thesupply to the conveyor.-

3. Loading apparatus comprising a lling station, a supply for ilattenedelongate cartons, a

. conveyor belt, sprocket means beneath said supplyfor-supporting theconveyor belt, means for intermittently moving the be1t, ;law means" Iv'on the belt openable to receive'a flattened cartonV while passing voverthe sprocket, means supply- 70 ing said. ilattened cartons one-by-oneaccording tofsaid intermittent movement, -means for partially .openingcartons on the belt, said jaw means automatically closing upon leavingthe sprocket and completely opening the cartons, 'l 5 ,s power means biin a direction lateral to its length along a straight line and to the'filling' station, -a latch resisting said bias, means responsive to afilled /condition of a package adjacent the. filling station forreleasing said biasing means to advance a package further along saidstraight line, andl means vi'or returning said biasing means to latchposition. fr

4. Loading apparatus comprising a lling station, a supply for ilattenedpackages, a conveyor beim/sprocket means beneath said supply forsupporting the conveyor belt, package containing means. on the beltopenable to receive a package`while passing over the sprocket andautomatically closing upon a package when leaving.

the sprocket, power means biasingjthe belt to move a package to theiilling station, a latch resisting saidv bias, means responsive to afilled condition of a `package adjacent the lling station for releasingsaid biasing means to advance the package a predetermined distance,automatic means for returning said biasing means to lat/ch position,ymeans released by the biasing action to release one carton from thesupply to the conveyor, a lance operative to partially open a packageafter release, and lance-operating means responsive to the action ofsaid package-operating means.

5.`Package loading apparatus comprising la by the biasing action. torelease one carton from the supply to the conveyor, a lance operative topartially'open a package afterv release, lanceoperating means responsiveV'to-the action of said rpackage-operating means for actuating thelance, means carried upon the conveyor for completely opening thepartially opened package as it moves from its position adjacent thepackage supply toward said station, and means responsive to the returnaction of said biasing means for enforcing the proper positioning of themeans on the conveyor for determining the final package shape prior toadvance tosaid lining station.

6. In package loading apparatus, -means supporting elongate packagesopen. at both ends, means for biasing the supporting means -to advancethe packages laterally alonga straight line towarda illling station,latch means at one end of advanced packages resisting the bias, meansfor pushing articles into the package from one open end and toward theother end while at the filling station, means at said otherv open endresponsive to. article movement when'the package is lled'to releasesaid' latch whereby said -bias moves the loaded package away from saidstation along a continuation of said straight line, '7. In packageloading apparatus, means supporting" elongate packages open at' bothends,

asing the belt to move a package means for pushing allffclsi'ritb' thefrom one open end amtowardtheother end while at the filling station,meanest, said other open end responsive to articlefmoveniet when thepackage is iii-led to release said latch whereby said bias moves theloaded package' away from said station jalong a` continuation oi saidstraight line, and means for automatically closing the loaded packagesby simultaneous oppositely directed operations on;the opposite open endsas they intermittently move from the iilling station.

8. In package loading apparatus, means supporting iijneloiigate packageopen at both opposite ends, means for biasing the supporting means toadvane thpackage laterally along a straight line toward a illingstation, latch means resisting the bias, means for pushing articles intothe package from one open end toward the other end while at the fillingstation, means at said other open end responsive to an article when thepackage is iilled to release said latch whereby said bia's moves theloaded package laterally away from said station and continuing alongsaid straight line, said package having closure ilaps adjacent the openends, and means beyond the iilling station cooperating simultaneously'with the opposite a'ps by simultaneously oppositely directed operationsthereon thereby closing the iiapswhile at the same time balancing thelongitudinal forces on the package.

9. In package loading apparatus, means supporting elongate packages openat both ends, means for advancing the packages laterally toward afilling station, means for pushing articles into the `package from oneopen end and toward the other end while at the iilling station, means atsaid ather open end responsive to an article when the package is i-llledto move the loaded package .away from said station, said package havingclosure iiaps adjacent theopposite open ends, and means beyond thellingstation simultaneously cooperating with the opposite flaps atoppositeends of the package for closing the flaps by simultaneouslyoppositely directed operations thereon. y

10. Caton loading apparatus comprising conveyor chains over sprockets,angle. plates attached to said chains and lying parallel at the straightreaches of the chains but `being angled respectively when passing overthe sprockets, each plate providing a bottom upon which a carton mayrest on one side, and an extension from each plate cooperating with aportion of the preceding plate to form another side, said plates beingadapted when sprockets to the straight se assing :from thea,

s of the chains to receive a carton in losenge shape oi cross tion andto force said lozenge shape into a rec-v tangular shape as the supportproceeds, means extending over the carton at one corner, and automaticmeans fordepressing saidV extension positively to determine more or lessaccurate ree-v tangular shaping as the cartons leave positions near thesprockets.

11. Means for closing elongated packages which are open at -both endsand have open iiaps at said openings, comprising oppositely recipro-`cating tuckers, means for moving the packag between the points ofreciprocation, said tuckersA partially introducing the iiaps into thepackagew upon a irst motion toward one another, means for subsequentlymoving the package sidewise to an adjacent point, and extensions fromsaid tuckers adapted while the package is at the lastnamed point to pushthe iiaps into ultimate positions in the package upon a subsequentstroke of said tuckers.

12.1 Loading apparatus comprising a cartoz'i supply means, a cartonadvancing means, a lill'- ing station, said advancing meansintermittenty advancing cartons step by step from the supply location tothe filling station, biased operating-Y means for said advancing means,automatic return means therefor, a latch for blocking action of theoperating means, a feeler responsive to the position of an article inthe package whenlled at the filling station adapted to release saidbiasing means to move the carton advancing means one step, means fordelivering articles from the supply one by one to said advancing means,a continuous drive means for said article delivery means, aone-revolution clutch between said continuous drive means and saidarticle delivery means, and means for closing the clutch in response tosaid release by said latch release, said article delivery means becomingoperative to deposit a carton on the advancing means only when saidadvancing means is stationary.

13. A package loader comprising means for laterally advancing to aiilling station a package which is open at both ends, means for pushingarticles into one open end oi' the package and through the same towardthe other open end while at the filling station, the advancing meansholding the package at the iilling station while being iilled, and meansresponsive to an article tending to emerge from the last-named open endof the package when the package is iilled for operating the advancingmeans to move the package laterally away from the filling station.

' AUGUST F. TOELKE.

REYNOLD GEHNE. BETER J. WENTA.

